September 27th, 2012

September 27, 2012

A gift of brand new iPads and laptops for Mammoth Elementary School students last year has allowed students to jump-start their roles as technologically savvy global citizens.

Even students as young as kindergarteners can now learn how to use the digital devices, whether their families at home have them, or can afford them or not, according to former Mammoth Elementary PTO member and president Pamela Bold.

September 27, 2012

A new virtual charter school is available in the Bishop/Mammoth area and itâ€™s free and open to most students.

The new, 501c3 nonprofit academy is called Golden State Virtual Academy. Itâ€™s a state-sponsored school and is thus free to students. It already has about 80 students, according to Principal Randy Cook.

September 27, 2012

As the Town of Mammoth Lakes comes to terms with a $29.5 million lawsuit judgment, Mono County Supervisors weighed in on the possible effects it will have on the county.

Counties and incorporated municipalities have very different functions. Cities and towns create their own wealth through property taxes and use some of that money to improve their areaâ€”by building a recreation center, a park, public art displaysâ€”but by law, a chunk of that property tax revenue also goes to the county.

September 24th

September 24, 2012

At approximately 12:40 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, Inyo County Sheriffâ€™s Investigators received notification of two deceased bodies in a home on Pa-Ha Lane, Bishop. Inyo County Coroner, Leon Brune has released the following names: Helena Spratt, an 18 year old Bishop woman; and Chase Tague, a 27 year old Bishop man. The bodies were discovered by a neighbor.

September 21st

September 21, 2012

Following up on their announcement of the signing of a term sheet on August 21, 2012, the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Lakes Land Acquisition LLC (MLLA) jointly announced today the settlementâ€™s specific terms, executed by parties on Thursday (Sept. 20, 2012.)

Also parties to the settlement are the Airport Developer, Terrence Ballas and his related development entities (â€śBallas entitiesâ€ť). The settlement amount is $29.5 million, substantially less than the $43 million judgment held by MLLA against the Town.

September 21, 2012

The U.S. Forest Service is waiving fees at hundreds of recreation sites across the country on Saturday, September 29, in recognition of National Public Lands Day.

Here locally on the Inyo National Forest day-use fees will be waived at South Tufa in the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, Reds Meadow and Devils Postpile, and Schulman Grove in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Fees regularly collected at these sites contribute significantly to improving facilities and vistor services in the specific area where the fees are collected.

September 21, 2012

As fundraisers go, it’s hard to imagine we’ll see one that’s much better than the benefit for Matt Graef at Z-Ranch on Tuesday. Fabulous raffle prizes, great food, and much needed money to the family of Graef, our Mammoth High School football player who is battling cancer. That was small-town Mammoth at its best, we say. …

September 21, 2012

September 21, 2012

As I have grown older, I always thought I would live in a house somewhere in Sun City, Arizona, or Palm Springs, California, playing bridge and shuffleboard with a bunch of old blue and grey-haired people, many of whom would be on walkers.

September 21, 2012

The long, hot, seemingly endless summer of 2012 comes to an end Saturday, the day of the Autumnal Equinox when night and day are equally long.

Beginning Saturday, the nights are longer than the days for the first time since the Vernal Equinox in March. From now on, the cold bite of winter will likely be felt in the cold, darkening mornings, as shirts and shorts give way to coats and pants.

September 21, 2012

Not everyone in June Lake is happy about how the community will spend all of the $100,000 in â€śbridgeâ€ť money Mono County gave it to survive a winter without June Mountain Ski Area.

â€śWe are in agreement as a community about how to spend about $75,000 to $85,000 of the money,â€ť said Ralph Lockhart, current president of the June Lake Revitalization Committee and the June Lake Chamber of Commerce.

The money will go toward marketing the community and all the events planned for the winter, and the county tourism department will administer it.

September 21, 2012

A helicopter crash Southeast of Mammoth injured two and started a small brush fire Wednesday afternoon, according to law enforcement officials.

The crash occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at about 12:30 p.m., when Mono County Sheriffâ€™s Department dispatchers received a call regarding a possible helicopter crash. The reports also indicated the helicopter was on fire.

The helicopter crashed on Pole Line Road, southeast of Mammoth Lakes, near Deer Springs Road, according to a sheriffâ€™s department press release.